NATCHEZ, Miss. – Mayor Darryl Grennell has unveiled a new logo for Natchez that he says represents its rich and diverse history.

With its centerpiece being an Indian chief symbolic of the Natchez tribe that once lived here, the seal displays the flags of France, England and Spain – the countries that settled the territory before Natchez became part of the United States in 1797 -- and the U.S. flag as it appeared then with 15 stars for the 15 states.

The logo also has African symbols signifying the city’s black heritage. The background has the Mississippi River with a paddlewheeler steamboat. It was designed by Jackson artist Vidal Blankenstein, a Natchez native.

The logo will be on city proclamations, business cards and stationery. It will not replace the official city seal and will not be incorporated into Natchez’ tourism branding.

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The Board of Aldermen voted Tuesday to meet with the Adams County Board of Supervisors to review bids received for constructing the community pool. Only one bid was submitted for building the pool while six came for related structures, such as a pavilion, deck and fencing. The bid deadline was June 1. The bids exceeded the $1 million budgeted for the pool.

The aquatic center is to be at Liberty Park near Natchez High School.

The Adams County Board of Supervisors and Natchez Board of Aldermen stepped in earlier this year to find a pool builder after previous bids sought by the city-county Recreation Commission far exceeded the $1 million budgeted for construction.

Alderman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis expressed frustrations about the slow pace of the long-delayed pool’s development. No date was formally set Tuesday for the joint meeting, but Arceneaux-Mathis said it should be before the end of June.

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The Natchez Board of Aldermen approved hiring security guards to be posted at the old Titan tire plant. Titan leased the city-owned property but shuttered the factory in 2001. The Illinois-based company continued leasing it from the city but vacated it this month.

The city will pay Dawson Security $6,000 a month to guard it 24 hours a day, said city attorney Bob Latham.

The plant was constructed for Armstrong tire company with state financing in 1939 and deeded to the city. It once had more than 1,000 employees working in several factory buildings.

The property has been leased to Armstrong and successor tire-making tenants Fidelty, Condere and Titan. The Illinois-based Titan it took over in 1998.

The factory site was contaminated by gasoline and cleaning solvents that previously seeped into groundwater in four sections of the Kelly Street property. The site has been monitored by the state Department of Environmental Quality.

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The Downtown Natchez Farmers Market will be outdoors on the 100 block of South Commerce Street by Home Bank starting this Saturday and every Saturday through August from 8 a.m. till noon.

City officials are reviewing bids for purchasing a street-sweeper vehicle costing more than $200,000. Four bid submissions from heavy-equipment dealers were opened Tuesday ranging from about $210,000 to $249,000. The mayor and Board of Aldermen are trying to find a replacement for the city’s old street sweeper that’s worn out.